Chapter 23: Decision, Part 5

Coach Sullivan suddenly blew the whistle. "Fowl!" he called as I helped Sandra up off the floor.

"That's okay," Alicia said sarcastically. "She won't make it, anyway."

"Since when did you become such a bitch?" I asked her, point blank.

"Since when did you even give a damn?" she countered, ready this time. Good question.

"Since I met Zac," I answered and watched as her face contorted into a scowl.

I smiled sweetly. Sandra made both her free throws. I cheered and Alicia sneered.

Sandra was a bit apprehensive toward Alicia, until I told her low so no one could hear, "Like I said: I have your back. Go for it!"

Sandra smiled. I took the ball out, then passed it to Sandra and guarded her so she could go toward the basket. Foreseeing her next move, I blocked Alicia, sneering at her, until she was unable to get around me. Sandra came down the court and I let Alicia go. Suddenly, Sandra stopped dead in her tracks, sending Alicia to the ground. Sandra had the ball and Alicia was the one who ran into her, so there was no fowl.

None of Alicia's team mates helped her up. The game ended with us winning 50 to 34. Afterward, I felt rested and relaxed, having burned off some excess energy, while most of the human girls were ready to drop.

"Good game!" I said, giving Sandra a high five, as we ran toward the locker rooms.

"Hey, that was fun!" Sandra said, winded, but feeling good. "You should have come to school here a long time ago!"

"That was a good game!" I agreed, grabbing a towel. I really wasn't sweating, but made it look good, wiping my neck. "Yeah, you're a good player!"

Sandra laughed. "Like you said," she said, grabbing a towel, "we make a good team."

"Come on, let's go!" I said, running toward the showers.

After class, the bell rang and Sandra walked with me to the parking lot, then waved good bye and got into a bright orange Fiat that resembled a box. And I thought they stopped making them. If I hung around long enough, I'd have to do something about that.

I walked through the parking lot and Zac was waiting, leaning against his candy apple red Shelby Mustang GT500 convertible, looking like Adonis. The car was nice, but he looked better. His arms were crossed in front of his chest, as his cerulean eyes met my gaze. My favorite lock of sun-bleached hair was falling lazily over one eye. Immediately, I walked toward him. My skin must have been glistening in the sunlight, because he blinked when he saw me and his jaw fell open a bit. I smiled sweetly, walking purposefully toward him, seeing only him as my heart pounded within my chest, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Hey," he said casually with a dazzling smile, then took my hand. "Are you ready?"

I nodded as he led me around the car, and opened the door. I could definitely get used to this. He waited until I was safely in, then closed it behind me. "So, how was your day?" I asked, smiling.

Zac gave me a dazzling half smile. "Well, if you really must know, I met this gorgeous girl today ..."

I laughed, brushing my wavy long brown hair away from my face as he started the car and pulled out of the school parking lot.

"So how was your day, dear?" he joked, grinning, barely watching the road.

"The same," I said, smiling.

"So, will your father say anything about me bringing you home?" Zac asked, perhaps a trifle concerned.

"No," I replied, daintily crossing my legs. "He's pretty cool, actually." And I wasn't lying ... completely. Rick would most certainly say something about this; he would tease me relentlessly, but riding with Zac was worth the ribbing. I was enjoying the cool breeze blowing through my hair and being close to Zac.

"So," Zac said, expertly maneuvering through town, "where to?"

"It's through town and around the bend," I said, but I really wasn't ready to go home just yet. "I just got into town last night. Would you mind showing me the lake? But if you're in a hurry ..."

"No, that's fine." Zac laughed, his eyes gleaming. Soon, he made a few sharp turns and within minutes, we were at a beautiful expanse of blue that was Otsego Lake. It was twice as long as it was wide, and very blue, almost blending in with the blue sky. In fact, it was hard to tell where the lake ended and the sky began. We sat on the hood of his car in front of the lake, watching the wildlife and the waves. "So, what do you think, Lisa?"

Then I looked directly at him, and said without reservations, "Gorgeous." But I wasn't talking about the lake.

He smiled, and then took my hand into his. "I know we've just met," Zac began, looking down at our entwined hands, "but I really like you a lot."

I sighed, smiling. "I like you too, Zac." And I knew in that instant it was more than just like. In that instant, he was my life, the sun, the moon, the stars-my whole world. And at that moment, looking into his azure blue eyes, I knew I would protect him at all costs, with my life if it warranted. "So, Zac, tell me about your mom," I said, breaking the magic of the moment. "Will your mother be mad if you come home late?"

"No," Zac replied, looking out over the lake, drawing lazy circles on the top of my hand. His warm skin actually felt good to the coolness of my hands. "My mom's pretty cool, too. I come and go, but let her know where I am and what I'm doing."

I smiled. "She sounds like a good mom," I said. Too bad I couldn't say as much about Abbott, his father.

He smiled. "She is." Then, a faraway look came into his eyes as he looked out onto the lake, smiling, then shook his head.

"What?" I said. "Go ahead. You can tell me anything."

He looked at me with penetrating eyes again, then gave me a dazzling half smile. I took a deep breath. He dazzled me and didn't even know it. "That's what's so funny ... or strange ... or surreal. I can talk to you about anything, Lisa. Why is that?"

I smiled, meeting his gaze. "I don't know. Maybe we knew each other in another life? That sounds too corny, doesn't it?"

"No," he said, smiling. "Not at all." Then our eyes met and he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close, then looked directly into my eyes. "I think I'm falling in love with you, Lisa."

My heart stopped, as I turned my attention back to the lake, unable to meet his gaze. "But you don't even know me," I answered in a low voice.

"I know enough," he said softly, pulling my chin to his. "I love you, Lisa." And his voice was a gentle caress filled with conviction, soft against my skin. Looking deeply into my eyes, he moved toward me until his lips touched mine, a gentle caress. Then, he pulled me tightly into his arms and passion enveloped us as our lips moved together in precise synchronization, as if we had been made for each other. My hunger for him enveloped me as my lips moved with his then to his neck, allowing him to breathe. Then my lips followed a trail back to his lips again, until I finally pulled away.

I had never felt passion so strong before in my very long lifetime. Zac had awakened something inside me that I thought had long laid dormant, and now there was no turning back for me. Looking directly into his eyes, I knew my heart would always be his. "Zac, I love you, too," I said, my voice filled with conviction, meaning every word.

Gently and oh so sweetly, he placed a hand on either side of my face and looked directly in my eyes. "I've never met anyone like you," he said, reminding me that I was very different from him.

"Zac," I began as the realization set in. "Our lives are very different..."

"Not that different," Zac corrected.

"Maybe so," I began again. "I just don't want to hurt you ..." I meant that in more ways than one.

"And I don't want to hurt you, either," Zac replied.

And it was true, I didn't want to get hurt. My soul, not my body. In all my years as a vampire, I had never opened my soul up to love, the strongest emotion of all. "Look, let's just see where this goes, okay? No worries, no pressure."

"If you see it that way ..."

"I do," Zac said, twining his fingers with mine. "Now, as much as I hate to say this, I'd better get you home before your father starts to worry."

I nodded, my eyebrows pulling together in concern, as he opened my car door for me. What was I doing? But I just couldn't help myself. And on the car drive home, I knew I didn't want to hurt him, nor did I want him to hurt me, either. Funny. I was such a strong vampire that I never feared getting hurt, but matters of the heart hurt much more.

We rode quietly home, until he pulled up in front of the big stone cottage, glistening in the setting sun, as shoots of orange, purple, and pink crossed a beautiful deep blue sky. "Beautiful," I said, looking at the sky.

"Yes, beautiful," Zac said, looking right at me, and he gave me one last sweet kiss before he got out of the car and opened my door.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked, closing the door. "Do you need a ride in the morning?"

"Sure," I answered, smiling. "I'll see you in the morning."

And I could feel him watching me as I walked down the stone walk-shimmering in the setting sun-to the wide front porch, wondering how this could possibly work out right.